Number theoryDifficulty 5.7AIME, harderProve itEstonia
Let n be a positive integer and a1,…,a2n be real numbers in [−21,21]. Leaving out any one of the numbers, the sum of the remaining 2n−1 numbers is always an integer. Prove that a1=⋯=a2n.
Solution
Assume that there exist ai and aj which are not equal. Let S=a1+⋯+a2n. Since S−ai and S−aj are integers, their difference (S−ai)−(S−aj)=aj−ai is also an integer. Since aj−ai=0, and they belong to [−21,21], their difference can be only ±1, this happens when ai and aj are 21 and −21 in any order. Let ak be any of the given numbers. Since (S−ai)−(S−ak)=ak−ai is an integer, ak must also be either 21 or −21. Hence all numbers ai are either 21 or −21. It follows that the sum of any two numbers ai and aj is an integer. As we have an even number of them, the sum of all the numbers S is also an integer. But then S−ai=S±21 cannot be an integer, a contradiction. Therefore all numbers ai must be equal.
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